HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-04; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES
MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING:
PLACE OF MEETING:
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
August 4,2008 (Regular Meeting)
3:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Cress called the Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present:
Absent:
Chair Gordon Cress
Vice-Chair Jack Gumming
Commissioner Steve Dorsey
Commissioner Guy Roney
None
Staff Members Present: Robert Johnson, City Engineer
Lt. Don Rawson, Carlsbad Police Department
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
July 7,2008
ACTION:
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
Motion by Commissioner Dorsey, and duly seconded by
Commissioner Roney, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting
on July 7,2008, as presented.
3-0-1
Gumming, Dorsey, Roney
None
Cress
ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
None.
August 4,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2
ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS:
Robert Johnson, City Engineer, reported that at this time City Council has not taken any action to fill
the vacancy on the Traffic Safety Commission.
ITEM 6 - NEW BUSINESS:
ITEM 6A: Establish a prima facie speed limit upon Faraday Avenue from Orion Street to
the east city limit.
Mr. Johnson informed the Commission that this item is to consider establishing a prima facie speed
limit upon Faraday Avenue from Orion Street to the east city limit. This street currently has 40 mile
per hour speed limit signs posted that were installed shortly after the road opened last fall at the
request of the Police Chief. However, official action to establish the prima facie speed limit has not
taken place and today is the first step in that process to establish a prima facie speed limit. Westerly
of Orion Street the speed limit is 40 miles per hour on Faraday Avenue and this speed limit
continues to Cannon Road.
The segment of road under discussion today is about 1.35 miles in length and is designated as a
secondary arterial on the Circulation Element of the General Plan. It has a curb-to-curb width of 64
feet. The road is striped with two lanes in each direction and includes a striped center median. The
road is built to City standards with curb, gutter, sidewalk and street lights.
Mr. Johnson explained that three traffic signals have been installed on this portion of Faraday
Avenue. Referring to Exhibit 1, Mr. Johnson stated that there is a traffic signal at El Fuerte Street,
one at Whiptail Loop West, and also at Whiptail Loop East. The City of Carlsbad/City of Vista
boundary is very near the easterly terminus of this roadway, and Melrose Drive is also signalized,
although that intersection is in the City of Vista. Since the roadway opened in October 2007, there
has been one collision where an individual drifted off the roadway and struck a street light pole.
Traffic volumes on Faraday Avenue are approximately 10,000 vehicles per day, which is about half
of the design capacity for a secondary arterial.
Mr. Johnson stated that an Engineering and Traffic Survey was prepared to establish a
recommendation for the prima facie speed limit. Three speed surveys were conducted on Faraday
Avenue. Critical speeds were found to be 48 miles per hour, 50 miles per hour, and 46 miles per
hour. The horizontal radius of the roadway east of El Fuerte Street is at the design minimum for a
secondary arterial. West of El Fuerte Street, there are several larger radius curves and this is
probably what is resulting in the higher critical speeds in the range of critical speeds.
August 4, 2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3
The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee (TSCC) considered such factors as the number of
collisions that have occurred on the road segment, roadway features, adjacent land uses, driveway
locations, traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, critical speed, horizontal and vertical alignment,
stopping sight distance, and conditions that may not be readily apparent to the driver. After review,
the TSCC recommended that a 45 mile per hour prima facie speed limit be established on Faraday
Avenue from Orion Street to the east city limit.
DISCUSSION
Vice-Chair Gumming stated that he observed that 4 percent of the motorists have obeyed the posted
speed limit, which is reassuring to him. He asked about the one accident that occurred on Faraday
Avenue, if it was due to inattention, sleep deprivation, or inebriation?
Lt. Rawson responded that he was at that particular accident scene and it occurred near Whiptail
Loop East in the eastern end of the city limits. There were two gentlemen coming home from
working all night and they must have fallen asleep and drove off the road. Speed and impairment
were not an issue. Visually, it looked like a very serious accident as the vehicle dropped about 100
feet into a gully and rolled several times. However, there were no injuries and no basis for
impairment. The primary collision factor was failing to stay on the road.
Vice-Chair Gumming replied that he has worked night shifts before, and he could appreciate that
happening. He stated that he has driven this road and he felt that the speed seems reasonable,
particularly given that it is already at half capacity because the area isn't developed. He assumed
drivers use this roadway as an alternative route to Palomar Airport Road. When that area develops, it
will probably come close to capacity.
MOTION:
ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Dorsey, and duly seconded by
Commissioner Roney, to approve the recommendation of the Traffic
Safety Coordinating Committee to establish a 45 mile per hour prima
facie speed limit upon Faraday Avenue from Orion Street to the east
city limit.
VOTE: 4-0-0
AYES: Cress, Gumming, Dorsey, Roney
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
August 4,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4
ITEM 6B: Consider adoption of a Traffic Safety Commission Resolution of Commendation
for Guy Roney.
MOTION:
ACTION: Motion by Chair Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Dorsey,
to adopt a Traffic Safety Commission Resolution of Commendation
for Guy Roney for serving as Chairperson of the Commission for the
past 12 months.
VOTE: 3-0-1
AYES: Cress, Gumming, Dorsey
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Roney
ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS
None.
ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER
Mr. Johnson mentioned that since the first Monday of September is the Labor Day holiday, there
will be no Traffic Safety Commission meeting held on September 1,2008. The next regular meeting
of the Traffic Safety Commission is scheduled to be held on October 6,2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the City
Council Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, Chair Cress adjourned the Regular Meeting of August 4,2008 at 3:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Woodbeck
Minutes Clerk